Best 2 Defalcos Italian Arancini Rice Balls Recipes

ARANCINI DI RISO: SICILIAN RICE BALLS

Steps:

• Make the risotto by adding the rice to the heated oil in a large saute pan, and stirring quickly for one or two minutes. Quickly add the white wine while stirring. With the heat on medium high, begin adding the chicken stock a little at a time, and continuously stirring, until all the stock has been used and the rice is cooked, yet still al dente (I have a risotto recipe here on my blog). Taste; adding salt if necessary. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
• Add an egg to the risotto and mix well, then refrigerate for a few hours, or overnight.
• To make the arancini:
• Place some rice in your hand and flatten it into your cupped hand, but don't make it too thin, or the filling will ooze out. Place a piece of mozzarella, and/or a little tomato sauce (and peas, if using) in the center of the cupped rice. Next, close the rice around the filling and shape into a ball.
• If you'd like to make conical shapes, flatten the bottom of the ball, and make the top more pointed.
• Now, roll the shaped arancini in flour, then roll them in the beaten egg, and finally the breadcrumbs. Set aside until all of the rice has been used.
• Heat some oil in a deep fryer, pot or wok until it is very hot. Add the arancini, and cook quickly, turning often so they don't brown too much on one side. If serving immediately, fry for a few minutes, so the cheese will melt in the center. Remove from oil and place on paper towel lined plate or tray. (If you'd like to serve them at a later time, remove them quickly after just browning; then, just before serving, place them on a baking sheet and re-heat in the oven at 400ºF for 5 to 10 minutes.)
• Serve plain, or place on tray with a little tomato sauce and garnish with basil. You can also serve them with a little extra sauce on the side, although this isn't done in Italy.

DIPASQUALE'S ARANCINI

Steps:

• Saute the onion, celery and carrot with the olive oil until translucent. Add the ground beef and season with salt and white pepper to taste. Once the beef is added, with a wooden spoon, break down any chunks; the beef should be as fine as possible. Add the tomato paste. Once the ground beef and tomato paste begin to simmer, turn down the heat to low and cook for 30 minutes. If the mixture begins to stick, add a touch of water. Add the peas once cooked. Let cool in refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
• Heat the extra-virgin olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the rice and stir until evenly coated with oil. Add the saffron and half of the chicken broth, stirring continually. Once the broth has been absorbed, continue to add small increments of broth, still stirring continually. Once all of the broth has been absorbed, add the Parmesan and pepper; the rice should be tender but "al dente." Pour the rice onto a baking sheet and place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. The rice should be able to form into a ball once cooled properly.
• Take a handful of cooled rice, flatten while forming an indentation in middle of the ball. Take a teaspoon or so of the cooled meat mixture and a mozzarella cube and place in the indentation of rice. Take another half handful or so of rice and finish forming the rice ball. Repeat with the remaining ingredients until all the rice balls are formed. Combine the flour, 1 1/4 cups of warm water and a pinch of salt and pepper. Dip each of the rice balls in the flour mixture to evenly coat, then coat with plain bread crumbs. In a deep-fryer, fry the rice balls on medium to high heat until golden brown.